Haryanto seeded 3rd in Taipei Open

Haryanto seeded 3rd in Taipei Open

JAKARTA (JP): Former national number one shuttler Haryanto
Arby is seeded third in the Chinese Taipei Open, the opening
Grand Prix of the year, despite carrying an injury.

An International Badminton Federation release stated that
Haryanto, nicknamed Hari, received a bye in the opening round and
will face Malaysia's Ng Kean Kok in the second round of the
tournament scheduled for Jan. 7 to Jan. 12.

Hari injured his back in the Thomas Cup championship in Hong
Kong in May. Only one month after he recovered, he injured his
right leg in the National Games in September. He had to rest for
about three months and missed the World Cup Badminton
Championship here in December.

The 24-year-old shuttler is expected to meet top seed Fung
Permadi, an Indonesian shuttler who plays for Taipei, or
Hendrawan of Indonesia if he manages to reach the third round.

Hendrawan also received a bye in the opening round and will
meet another Malaysian, Katharopham Ponniah, in the second round.

Old hand compatriot Hermawan Susanto is to meet Liu En Hong of
Taipei in the second round.

Junior Salim, seeded fifth, is to challenge Lee Mie Chow of
Taipei while teammate Marleve Mainaky faces Kenneth Johanssen of
Denmark, seeded ninth, in his opening match.

Salim is expected to challenge second seeded Poul-Erik Hoyer-
Larsen of Denmark, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist, in the
quarterfinals.

In the women's singles, Mia Audina is the only national
shuttler playing after Susi Susanti, the 1992 Olympic gold
medalist, withdrew from the tournament to prepare for her
marriage next month to shuttler Alan Budikusuma, who won the
men's singles gold medal in the 1992 Olympics.

Mia, the first seed in the tournament, faces Lim Amparo of the
Philippines in her first match.

Mia will have to overcome the experienced Camilla Martin of
Denmark, the second seed, to win the tournament.

Olympic gold medalists Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky are the
first seeds while compatriots Antonius/Denny Kantono, Olympic
bronze medalists, are the second seeds. Indonesia has also sent
the new pair of Chandra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto.

Etti Tantri/Cintya and Nonong/Carmelita are to represent the
country in the women's doubles while the newly formed
partnerships of Sandiarto/Finarsih and Imam Tohari/Emma Ermawati
will compete in mixed doubles. (yan)